TREATMENT INFORMATION
Wegovy tablets
Semaglutide — once-daily tablet
Last reviewed: September 2026
- Active ingredient
- Semaglutide
- Format
- Tablet
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Main receptor activity
- GLP-1
- Starting dose
- 1.5 mg daily
What are Wegovy tablets?
Wegovy tablets contain semaglutide.
Oral Wegovy was authorised in the UK in June 2026 for weight management, making semaglutide available as a licensed once-daily tablet for eligible adults as well as in injectable form.
How do they work?
Like injectable Wegovy, the tablets contain semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist involved in appetite regulation.
The active ingredient is the same, although route and dosing are different.
How are they taken?
Once daily.
Licensed escalation normally follows:
Month 1: 1.5 mg once daily
Month 2: 4 mg once daily
Month 3: 9 mg once daily
Month 4 onwards: 25 mg once daily
25 mg once daily is the recommended maintenance dose.
Administration is important
Oral semaglutide has specific administration conditions.
It should be:
- taken on an empty stomach following a fasting period of at least 8 hours
- swallowed whole with a small amount of water, up to approximately 120 mL
- followed by at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines
Tablets should not be split, crushed or chewed.
Common side effects
Can include:
- nausea
- vomiting
- diarrhoea
- constipation
- abdominal pain
- headache
- tiredness
- indigestion
- reflux
- bloating
- dizziness
- gallstones
- hair loss
- altered taste or skin sensation
Important safety information
Important semaglutide warnings broadly overlap with injectable Wegovy and include risks such as pancreatitis, dehydration and relevant eye complications.
Severe persistent abdominal pain or significant unexpected visual changes require appropriate urgent medical assessment.
Stop taking this medicine and seek urgent medical help for severe, persistent abdominal pain, with or without nausea or vomiting. This may indicate acute pancreatitis.
Seek urgent medical advice for sudden loss of vision or rapidly worsening eyesight, whether or not you have diabetes. The current patient leaflet includes a warning about non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (NAION).
Pregnancy
Semaglutide should not be used during pregnancy.
It should be stopped at least two months before a planned pregnancy.
Tablets versus injection
Both contain semaglutide but they are NOT milligram-for-milligram equivalents.
The tablet is taken daily with specific fasting requirements.
Injectable Wegovy is administered weekly.
Do not switch or convert between formulations without prescriber review.